The TPCA plant successfully completed comprehensive technological testing and at the same time met the legal requirements for granting permission for trial operation. This permission for TPCA is absolutely crucial since it proves that the plant is eligible for manufacturing passenger cars and can start producing (start of production is planned for the first quarter of 2004).

The municipal office in Kolín – Department of Construction and Planning – issued a decision on a permit for trial operation to the Toyota Peugeot Citroën Automobile, Czech Ltd. Company.

This event is an important step in the public approval process, which began in 2001 by the E.I.A. for the industrial zone in Kolín - Ovčáry and continued through to planning and construction management all the way to the construction of the plant.

The trial operation phase will take approximately one year and after a successful completion of all the conditions, TPCA shall go into full operation. Permission for the trial operation shows that the plant meets all the standards for occupational safety, fire protection, hygiene and the environment.

In the past TPCA has successfully undergone a process of preparing an integrated permit (IPPC). This permit sets limits on the waste produced, waste water, air emissions, noise and regular monitoring. Some limits are much stricter at TPCA than the valid Czech legislation and than is usual in European Union countries (i.e. the limit value for VOC emissions into the atmosphere for TPCA is more than 50 % stricter than the current limit inFrance and UK). Similarly, a stricter limit is set for noise and other factors affecting the environment.

The approval process further confirmed that TPCA uses only the best available technology ("BAT") in its manufacturing activities and is a European and world leader in the use of modern, environmentally friendly technologies that are able to ensure compliance with the most stringent limits. TPCA has met regulations in advance, which will not be valid for other domestic manufacturers until 2007.

TPCA has undertaken to complete the certification process according to ISO 14001 within one year from the start of production-i.e. in February 2006 above the legislatively required performance limits. This process is even subordinated to the preparation of all standard operating procedures including the assessment and management of environmental impacts and establishing a system of regular internal audits focused on the environment. They have already been actively carried out at the completion of installation work phase in mid- 2004.